Cheap Travel for Women is a travel blog of a Filipino woman who wants to teach travelers that you don't have to be rich to see the world.
Budget or cheap food, transportation, accommodation tips for your travel to the Philippines, Asia, and Europe.
Get local experience and cultural immersion. Homestay or couchsurfing. Ride overland on a bus, motorcycle, or bicycle; or over waters on a ferry, or go surfing, snorkelling, diving.

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

It was my turn at Singapore's immigration. The officer gazed at me, took a close look at my passport, and started bombarding me with questions:

"How long are you staying in singapore? When are you leaving? Do you have a return flight?"..and demanded for my ticket.Since I planned on coming back and spend 2 more weeks in malaysia, she started scribbling my itinerary.Fifteen (15) minutes later and probably proving that I have no intentions of prolonging my stay in the lion city (as most pinays do), the officer finally let me in.

-- & --

When I met up with my Maori friends Kamera and Harley in Kuching, I told them about what happened in singapore. I also gave them the background that the reason why immigration officers are stern about letting Filipinas in is that most of these Pinays overstay, hoping to find a job there before their 14-day visa expires.

"No wonder our line was held up in brunei immigration. There was a filipina in jeans and shirt who was ahead of us. She looked like a typical househelp."Kamera then continued her advice by telling me to dress appropriately when i go to brunei. This will tell them that I respect their customs and am not there to find a job.Fast-forward to Brunei immigration. The lady officer was dutifully doing her task reviewing mypassport and i was all-smiles. Donning a long-sleeved kurta and a lengthy sarong, doing my best to look prim and proper, ready to show her my flight out to the Philippines in a few days, and ready to recite my itinerary, she handed my passport back to me. Stamped with a 14-day stay. No questions asked.

:) Delightful.

It's a sad reality that Filipino women are discriminated against.That's why whenever i run off to a different country, i try my best to give the Philippines a good name.